Completed in August 1917 as steam merchant Astronomer for T. & J. Harrison, Liverpool. In August 1939 requisitioned by the Admiralty and converted to a boom defence vessel.

Notes on event

At 23.48 hours on 1 June 1940, HMS Astronomer (Master John James Egerton) was hit in the stern by one G7e torpedo from U-58 30 miles southeast of Wick. At 03.18 and 04.43 hours on 2 June, the vessel was hit by two coups de grâce and sank about one hour after the last hit in position 58°02N/02°07´30W. Four crew members were lost. The master, 51 crew members, one gunner and 48 naval officers and ratings were picked up by HMS Stoke City (FY 232) (LtCdr N.C.H. Scallan, RNR) and HMS Leicester City (FY 223) (T/Lt A.R. Cornish, RNR) and landed at Rosyth.